以天下八卦为己任；
置他人死生于度外。
——狗仔队信条。

※※※

Actually, for movie production companies, such big gossip news about the female lead of their film is a good thing. They can strike while the iron is hot and hype up "Boys and Girls Are So Young," making it known to the whole world. But for Isabelle Karina herself, it's not such a good thing. She still has to do publicity and attend those events, forcing a smile under the flashing lights of the media.

But everyone can see that the exhaustion on her face cannot be concealed no matter what. The originally lively and cheerful her has also become very silent. Is she haggard because of the gossip, or because of emotional problems? No one knows.

Of course, some people at the promotional events asked her about Preston and Cru, and some simply asked her to choose one of them. Faced with these questions, Karina used silence as her answer, because she herself doesn't know who to choose now.

Preston's performance these past few days has made her feel disgusted. When she needed comfort the most, he didn't even call, and reporters couldn't interview him. She doesn't know what he's thinking.

Could it be that for the sake of career, can you really abandon everything?

※※※

Cru found head coach Sabato: "I want to play in the Lyon game, starting." His tone was firm, and it helped Sabato make up his mind.

"If your condition isn't good, I'll take you off even after ten minutes of the game," Sabato said seriously.

Cru nodded.

Zhang Jun heard about the agreement between Cru and Sabato from Di Livio. When training ended, he stopped Cru in the parking lot.

"I heard what you said to the boss, you volunteered to play?"

Cru nodded.

Zhang Jun looked at Cru, and he gradually smiled: "That's great, I thought you would just keep doing nothing. But aren't you worried about your condition? Your recent training hasn't been too good, has it?"

Cru flicked the hair out of his eyes: "Training is training, the game is the game. I have a reason to win."

Zhang Jun breathed a sigh of relief. He patted Cru on the shoulder: "Good luck!"

Soon the team knew that Cru had suddenly become motivated, which was naturally a good thing for Fiorentina, which was in trouble. Moreover, although Cru is cold on the surface, he has a good heart. How many attackers on the team haven't received his assists to score? What looks like a mess to outsiders, Fiorentina's internal affairs are already on the right track.

And Lyon, waiting in France, obviously wouldn't have imagined that the development of things has exceeded their expectations.

※※※

Karina has received a notice from her agent, Malouda, that the day after tomorrow is the last day of promotion in Paris. After that, they will fly to Hong Kong, and then transfer from Hong Kong to Shanghai to continue their East Asian promotional activities.

Karina sighed softly, maybe leaving this complicated and noisy France, she could get the peace she wanted?

The phone on the table rang again. Karina knew without looking that it was that unfamiliar number again, which had been ringing once every night for the past few days. Because it was an unfamiliar number, Karina was afraid that it was a reporter calling, so she hadn't answered it. But the phone number she had been waiting for had not appeared on the phone screen.

The sound kept ringing. Karina didn't want to answer it, so she let the sound ring. She knew that it would automatically disappear after a while.

Sure enough, after ringing a few times, the ringtone disappeared. Just as Karina breathed a sigh of relief, the ringtone rang again. Karina still didn't answer, the ringtone disappeared automatically after a while, and soon rang again.

It went on and on, it seemed that as long as Karina didn't answer, the sound would keep ringing.

Karina suddenly felt very irritable. The ringtone made from her song was like the things that had happened these days, making her upset. She grabbed the phone, wanting to press the power button, and then the world would be quiet…

But when she saw that familiar and unfamiliar phone number on the phone screen again, she hesitated. Unfamiliar because she didn't know who the phone number belonged to, which reporter? Which TV crew producer? Or which male artist she once knew but couldn't remember? Familiar because the phone number had been ringing stubbornly for a week, appearing in front of her every day. It was hard for her not to remember it, and she didn't know if it had called during the time she turned it off.

Karina suddenly felt a little curious, she wanted to know who was calling her so persistently every day. This feeling was getting stronger and stronger.

But just as her finger was about to press the answer button, the ringtone suddenly disappeared.

※※※

Zhang Jun sat on the bed looking at Cru who put down the phone: "Why were you so persistent today?"

Cru shook his head: "I don't know."

"Are you still going to call?"

"I'm not calling, there's a game tomorrow." Cru lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling.

"If I were you, I would keep calling."

"Why?"

"Chasing women requires patience and perseverance. It's not good to give up halfway."

Cru laughed. He's been smiling more lately, but I don't know if it's a self-deprecating laugh. "Wouldn't that be very cheap?"

Zhang Jun was stunned. "But you've already made so many calls, you've already been cheap, why not be a little cheaper? Anyway, there's not much difference between being cheap fifty steps and being cheap a hundred steps... Men, you have to be a little cheap to yourself!" He taught Cru in a serious manner.

Cru was amused by Zhang Jun's words, and this time he laughed happily. But after laughing, he still had no intention of calling: "Forget it, I'm not calling."

Zhang Jun couldn't figure it out, he had put in so much effort, how could he still not be able to persuade Cru?

Cru smirked: "I heard there's a Chinese idiom called: 'yu qin gu zong' (to release in order to capture)..."

This time it was Zhang Jun's turn to laugh non-stop, he patted Cru on the shoulder and kept repeating: "Good kid! Good kid..."

※※※

Karina originally thought that the ringtone would ring again immediately after it disappeared, so she planned to wait and answer it when it rang again. But she waited for ten minutes, and still didn't hear that familiar ringtone. She waited another ten minutes, still nothing.

She knew that the other party would not call again, at least not today.

A woman's restraint prevented her from calling back, she could only complain about why that person had called so many times, but stopped calling at the crucial moment.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a little lost.

※※※

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the "Boys and Girls Are So Young" crew appeared in a TV station's studio according to the contract. They were invited to participate in a talk show on this TV station, which was also part of the promotion.

When Karina got out of the car, the media gathered at the door frantically pointed cameras, recorders, microphones... everything that could be pointed at people at her. The white light from the flashes seemed to never disappear. They formed a whole, illuminating the road from the Audi to the door snow-white.

On this short road, countless questions about Preston and Cru were thrown at her, but Karina always maintained a shallow smile and didn't answer any questions. No matter how the reporters tried to stimulate her with words, her beautiful lips were pursed.

She knew very well in her heart that her relationship with those two men would definitely be the focus of this talk show, and she couldn't avoid it.

※※※

When the Fiorentina players walked out of the players' tunnel, they were "welcomed" very enthusiastically by the home team's fans. Booing and cursing became the mainstream of the stands in this stadium.

Sabato was very satisfied with all of this. "Angelo, this away game atmosphere is great! If we can beat Lyon badly in this environment, there's nothing that would give me more pleasure!"

Di Livio shook his head: "You seem to enjoy being at odds with everyone?"

Sabato laughed: "That's right. Fiorentina has never been a likeable team from the beginning. Our opponents are afraid of us, so they try their best to interfere with our progress. Do you know how many people would be happy if we lost the game? Too many! I can't even count them. To be honest, I'm not interested in dressing up and pretending to be a good person in front of the public. I just want them to hate us. The deeper their hatred, the more successful we are. As long as we can win, what does it matter if we are the enemy of the whole world?"

According to the usual practice, the players from both sides who played were standing waiting for the reporters to take pictures, as a family portrait. Of course, there were also some people who didn't come to take family portraits…

Although it was the home team, there were obviously fewer reporters from Lyon than from Fiorentina, and Fiorentina was able to have such an important position in the hearts of French reporters, it could be said that it was all thanks to one person.

That person was now standing next to Zhang Jun as if nothing had happened, with his usual indifferent expression on his face. If any reporter tried to find any clues about Karina's scandal from this expressionless face, he was destined to be disappointed.

※※※

The TV program started at the agreed time, and some audience members and Karina's fans were invited to the scene. At the beginning, the interviews were still within the normal question range, all about interesting things during the filming of the movie. Both sides were talking and laughing, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

But Karina knew very well in her heart that what was coming would come sooner or later. She was waiting quietly.

※※※

Lyon's players, coaches, and fans all believed that they could stage a miraculous comeback at home. Because Fiorentina's team has been in a slump recently, and the main attacking midfielder Cru is also troubled by emotional affairs. If they don't take this opportunity to use their home advantage to defeat Fiorentina, where is the reputation of the French League champion?

But what they didn't expect was that Fiorentina broke Lyon's goal in just fifteen minutes of the game.

Zhang Jun received Gasparoni's cross and easily headed the ball into Lyon's goal in the middle.

At that moment, the entire Gerland Stadium was silent. Fiorentina led Lyon 6-0 and had a valuable away goal! If Lyon still wanted to make a comeback, they had to score seven goals in the following game, and they couldn't let Fiorentina score again. This seemed impossible for Fiorentina, which had the best attack power in the world.

At this moment, no French person would still be thinking about a comeback, right? Fiorentina, with her usual strength, warned those who were trying to bring her down: Don't try to take any advantage of me.

※※※

After chatting for twenty minutes, the host finally threw the topic to Karina. The core content of this interview was coming.

"Isabelle, recently you seem to be entangled in the feelings of two men..."

Karina smiled embarrassedly: "It's just the hype of the media."

"But your phone chat records with Joao Preston have also been exposed by the Italian media..."

Karina sighed in her heart. Some questions couldn't be avoided by keeping silent or changing the subject. She had to face it, and she knew that a decision had to be made about this love triangle.

"That chat record is not fake, I admit its authenticity." Karina spoke. The host and the program producers below knew that this female star, who had been avoiding the media recently, was finally going to make a formal response to this matter. It seemed that it was right for this program to persuade her to come, and the ratings were already starting to climb.

※※※

There were many reporters around the Gerland Stadium. There were not many sports reporters here - after all, it wasn't a major Champions League game - but many entertainment reporters came, all for Cru, hoping to find something related to Karina from this game.

Naturally, they were also paying attention to Karina, who was a guest on TV at the same time.

"Hey, Karina over there has spoken, she plans to admit her relationship with Preston." A reporter contacted a colleague on the other side through his mobile phone, and then transmitted the latest news back to the stadium.

"Really? Then there will be a lot of excitement! If she admits that she and Preston are lovers, then what is Cru here?"

"Idiot! Naturally, he's the third party! But it seems that Karina knew Cru earlier than she knew Preston..."

"Yes, in this way, Preston wouldn't become the third party?" The two looked at each other, they must have smelled something exciting from it.

"Haha! Interesting, so interesting!"

While the group of reporters was discussing enthusiastically off the field, Cru on the field knew nothing about it. He didn't know what kind of impact the TV talk show would have on his future. He was just playing his own game well. In terms of family background, demeanor, or popularity, he couldn't compare to Preston. If Karina really confirmed her relationship with Preston, what would he use to compete with him?

Mascherano picked a pass to the front. Cru stretched his foot in the air to stop the ball in the air under the defense of three people. Then, without waiting for the ball to land, his right foot that stopped the ball directly made a "cow tail" in the air! (a type of football move)

The football seemed to stick to his feet. With the movement of his ankle, it obediently swayed from left to right, and then flew from right to left. Then it drilled out from the gap between the two people in front, and he himself accelerated and rushed out!

Lyon's players didn't expect that Cru could dribble past people like this. All three of them were stunned in place, and Cru easily broke through!

The Fiorentina fans screamed again. They all knew about Cru and that French woman, and this game on French soil was the best opportunity to show the French their power. So one by one they spared no effort to cheer for Cru.

※※※

The camera gave Karina a close-up of her face, intending to see from this shot whether her expression was natural when she spoke, so as to infer whether she was lying.

"...I met Joao after I came back from Florence." Karina also seemed to want to use this program to say what was in her heart, and by the way... she also needed something to stimulate her to make a final decision. "Joao is very charming, very elegant, he is like a true gentleman. I have a good impression of him, I have always wanted to find a man who can take care of me."

The program producers outside the studio were overjoyed. It was already great to be able to invite the recent scandal heroine, but they didn't expect that this heroine would personally admit her relationship with Preston in their program.

This was an unexpected big harvest!

Countless media outlets had hoped to get Karina to speak before, but they didn't expect to get the benefit themselves. He didn't actually understand why Karina suddenly decided to speak after being silent for more than a week. He hadn't greeted the crew beforehand.

※※※

"Cru's condition is back, the French are going to be unlucky! Aha!" The espn commentator was a little gloating. In his opinion, Lyon, who was ambitious before the game, was now extremely embarrassed. Cru alone stirred up their defense, and Zhang Jun was still watching eagerly. Saying they wanted to make a comeback before the game? This was simply the funniest joke he had ever heard.

The French endlessly hyped up the rumors about Cru and Karina before the game, trying to interfere with Cru's performance and affect his condition. They didn't expect to lose their rice while trying to steal a chicken, but instead aroused Cru's fighting spirit.

Cru made a beautiful dribbling move, and after causing a scream in the stands, he passed the ball to Pazzini, whose shot was slightly off.

Even if all the players in Lyon came to defend Cru, Cru believed that he could get rid of them. Passing one person, passing two people... Passing eleven people was no different to Cru.

He has now completely reached the point where he can do moves without looking at the ball under his feet.

Looking up at people while dribbling the ball. When Lyon's players thought there was an opportunity to take the ball, he naturally flicked the ball, making his opponent pounce in the air, and he continued his leisurely dribbling style...

Who said he was in poor condition? He is in very good condition now!

※※※

Karina felt for the first time that the lights in the studio were too strong. She knew that at this moment, there would definitely be many people watching her in front of the TV, expecting every word she said.

She also knew that every word she said next would become the headline of the newspaper the next day and the focus of TV news.

But she had to make a decision, this couldn't be delayed any longer. She couldn't bear this pressure anymore.

She suddenly wanted to drink some water, or leave for a while, it was really hot in here!

"We talk on the phone every day, although I'm in Italy and he's in Los Angeles. That feeling is very good..." Karina was still recalling the various things when she and Preston were in love, but her expression didn't look sweet at all. "But..." The crucial turning point was coming, and everyone held their breath, waiting for Karina to continue.

※※※

Lyon launched a crazy counterattack. They almost all pressed forward, hoping to break Fiorentina's goal. Even if we can't advance, we can't not score a goal!

Lyon's offensive ended here with Mascherano. Mascherano's midfield defensive ability was very outstanding. He alone was enough to form a wall in front of the defense line.

After he intercepted Lyon's attack, he passed the ball to Cru again.

At this time, Zhang Jun and Pazzini had not had time to move forward. Cru was dribbling the ball near the center line. He looked up at the Lyon goalkeeper standing on the edge of the penalty area line. Then he made a move that surprised the audience.

He shot directly from the center line!

Who would have thought that Cru, who never wanted to score himself, would shoot from the midfield?

Lyon's goalkeeper was caught off guard. When he reacted and turned around to run back, it was too late. Everyone watched as the ball fell into the empty goal!

The Gerland Stadium was dead silent...

※※※

"But I want to officially announce here: All the things between me and Joao Preston are over. I don't want to see anyone associating my name with his name again, I don't want to!" Karina said so firmly that this turning point was something that many people couldn't have imagined - they thought Karina was going to officially admit her relationship with Preston, but they didn't expect it to be a breakup declaration...

"Isabelle, are you saying that you plan to break up with him?" The host asked.

"Let's say it is. I was a little crazy for a while, but now I just want to live a peaceful life." What made Karina decide to break up with Preston was that Preston's performance during this period had disappointed her. He hadn't called her or asked about her feelings and situation, acting like a stranger.

She suddenly realized that Joao Preston must be afraid that his relationship with her would affect his image in the hearts of women and affect his career prospects, so he had been silent. And Karina had a hunch that she might be able to receive a call from Preston in a few days, but it wouldn't be sweet words to comfort her, but a farewell speech for the breakup.

Karina was prepared for this, but she was unwilling to be at a complete disadvantage in this "war." She couldn't beat those ubiquitous media, but at least she couldn't lose in the fight with men again. She simply announced the end of this relationship in advance, at least to give people the feeling that "Karina dumped Preston," which was better than losing face.

This was also Isabelle Karina's counterattack.

She really wanted to see the expression on Joao's face after he knew this news. She had a feeling of revenge in her heart.

"So Isabelle won't consider her personal feelings anymore?"

"I should just focus on work during this time. I caused a lot of trouble for Leo because of this and that problem some time ago, but fortunately the director is not angry."

Leo Carax, who was sitting next to Karina, smiled.

"What about the other scandal protagonist..."

"Him?" Karina knew who the host was talking about. "Should just be..." She didn't know how to describe the relationship between the two. Before she met Joao, she did hope to use seduction to show off her charm with Cru. Later, when she was in love with Joao, she wanted to clear her relationship with him in front of Cru... After all this tossing, what was she to him?

Ordinary friends? It seemed that they hadn't even said a few words, right?

His fans? She had only watched two games.

Strangers? It would be a little too unfeeling to say that...

What was her relationship with that annoying boy?

Karina found that she had just gotten rid of one trouble, and another trouble had come to her door.

※※※

"Absolutely unbelievable! This is a fifty-meter midfield shot! A super long-range goal! Cru's imagination has been brought to the extreme. No one would have thought that he would choose this time, this way to score!" The espn commentator screamed crazily. Behind him were the cheers of the Fiorentina fans and the silence of the Lyon fans.

The total score was 0:7 behind. Such a game was almost impossible to continue. Lyon's coach wanted to strangle the coach who was specifically responsible for collecting intelligence. He said with certainty that Fiorentina's team was in terrible condition, and Cru was entangled in a scandal, so it was impossible for him to have a good performance in this game.

Now look, a fifty-meter shot from the midfield doesn't count as a good performance?!

Damn it!

And that group of entertainment reporters at the sideline, this is a football game, not an entertainment show's location!

Fiorentina's players were all vying to hug Cru. This goal was so beautiful. After the season, this goal will definitely become one of the ten best goals in this season's Champions League.

Zhang Jun hugged Cru's head and said in his ear, "Have you made up your mind about something?"

"What decision?"

"What decision are you talking about?"

"That thing... Let's consider it after the game."

Zhang Jun looked at Cru running away and smiled secretly: "You wrapped yourself up tightly before, like you didn't eat human food, let's see what you do now."

During the intermission, Fiorentina's players seemed very relaxed. With such a score difference and two away goals, the second half had become garbage time. Sabato was already considering letting more substitutes play to train, but when he called Cru's name, he rarely expressed his desire: "I want to stay on the field and play for ninety minutes."

Everyone was very surprised, including Sabato. He had coached Fiorentina for three and a half seasons, and it was the first time he had seen Cru actively express his thoughts. "Ju-just now was that you talking, Cru?"

Cru nodded: "It's me."

"You don't want to be substituted, can you tell me why?"

"Coach, Cru is expressing his thoughts so firmly for the first time, there must be a reason." Before Cru could speak, Zhang Jun said first, "He performed very well in the first half, so it's better to continue to give him a chance."

Cru was still worried about how to explain his reasons to Sabato, but now Zhang Jun helped him out. He first nodded to Sabato, and then cast a grateful look at Zhang Jun.

Zhang Jun smiled: You owe me an assist.

Since the captain had expressed his opinion, the others didn't say anything, and Sabato naturally agreed to Cru's request.

"Okay." Sabato "helplessly" shook his head, "I wanted to save some face for the French..."

Everyone in the locker room laughed, crocodile tears!

※※※

Karina has returned to her hotel. Today's last promotional event has also ended, and more importantly, she can finally sleep peacefully. The emotional problems these days have exhausted her physically and mentally, and she is also very sensitive to phone rings.

But now she can calmly look at the phone number and that name lit up on the phone screen: Joao Preston.

"Hello."

"Isabelle?"

"It's me, Joao?"

"It's really you, that's great. Listen to me, I think there's some misunderstanding between us..."

Before Preston could finish speaking, Karina coldly interrupted him: "What misunderstandings can there be between us? Mr. Preston?"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone: "Isabelle, I just want to save the relationship between us..."

"Don't say such hypocritical things, Mr. Preston. If you really wanted to save our care, then why didn't you call me once during the most difficult week?"

"I... I was busy with work during that time, and you also know that there are several film producers in Hollywood..."

"No matter how busy you are, don't you have time to make a ten-minute phone call?" When Karina thought of all the things she had done for this person and the grievances she had endured alone, she felt that she was really stupid at that time, and her voice couldn't help but choke. "Do you know how difficult it was for me to be here alone? Where were you when I needed you the most? Now you're calling, isn't it because you saw what I said on the TV show? You're afraid of damaging your image, aren't you? My gentleman..."

"Isabelle, you're too excited, I think we need to talk another day..." After saying that, Preston hung up the phone in a hurry.

"Get lost!!" Karina yelled at the phone, "Go maintain your image! Go find your American girl! See who will be the next fool! You selfish and hypocritical hypocrite!"

She threw the phone in her hand onto the bed, and tears had already wet the sweater on her chest. Her first love, which she had given her heart to, unexpectedly ended so quickly and in such a way...

※※※

Zhang Jun looked at Cru: "What's wrong, can't get through?"

"The line is busy." Cru put down the phone.

Only the two of them were left in the locker room. "Let's go, let's call her again when we get back to the hotel."

Cru looked at his phone and then said to Zhang Jun, "You go first, I'll call one more time, if not, I'll go too. Let the driver wait for me a little."

Zhang Jun sighed and turned to leave. "Don't let the driver wait too long, there are other teammates too."

Cru didn't answer, he looked at the name on the phone screen, his thumb on the dial button.

※※※

Seeing Zhang Jun come out alone, Sabato was a little strange: "Where's Cru?"

"Oh, he's still inside taking a shower and changing clothes, he said he'll come out later." Zhang Jun lied.

"Okay, let's keep waiting." Sabato squatted outside the car, not at all like a "famous coach."

Zhang Jun walked straight to the car, slapped hands with several players, and then sat next to Xiang Tao.

"That kid is still on the phone?"

Zhang Jun nodded.

"Tsk, why didn't you do it earlier, you had to let things get to this point..."

"Hehe, Xiang Tao. Some things are very clear to us bystanders, but the parties involved are very confused." Zhang Jun's tone was also very helpless.

"But Zhang Jun, China is very particular about fate, and you can't do anything without this fate. If he really has a relationship with her, then they will eventually come together no matter what. But if there is no fate, don't force it. You have to let him know this, you are the person he trusts the most." Xiang Tao leaned on the seat, his eyes drifted to the end of that passage.

"Aren't you?" Zhang Jun was a little strange.

"I'm just his friend, and you... are more than just his friend." Xiang Tao sighed and stopped talking.

Zhang Jun slowly chewed on Xiang Tao's last sentence alone.

※※※

Tomorrow, everyone will laugh at her as a fool, right? She suddenly remembered her mentor - Ms. Marlene Farmer warned her: As a female star who became famous at a young age, falling in love and getting married too early is tantamount to destroying your future.

In the face of love and future, which one do you choose, Isabelle Karina?

The phone rang again. Karina was worried that it was Preston calling again, so she didn't get up to answer it. She let the ringtone ring many times before disappearing.

But then, the phone rang again. Karina suddenly had a very familiar feeling - yes, that's right. It was the stubborn person before, calling over and over again, but she didn't know who he (she) was. She once looked forward to that number being lit up again...

Thinking of this, Karina suddenly jumped up from the sofa, and then rushed to the bed, grabbed the phone and was about to answer. At this time, the ringtone stopped...

"Why is this happening..." Karina looked at the screen that was gradually turning black, the number was gradually becoming illusory and unreal. "Are you teasing me? Are you laughing at me? Bastard, I'm going to call back, I'm going to reveal your mask... Let me see who you are?!" In her almost crazy self-talk, she pressed the callback button.

※※※

Cru was a little frustrated. He made five calls. The first three were busy, and the last two were clearly connected but no one answered. He didn't know what was going on over there, but he couldn't do anything. He couldn't let his teammates wait outside for too long. Now he had to go out.

Just as he was about to open the locker room door, the phone in his pocket, with the music of "wewillrockyou", jumped happily...

※※※

Regarding the explanation for the recent slow updates:

First of all, it is because the championship is coming to an end, and I am also starting to prepare for the new book. So recently I have been busy collecting information, making settings, drawing maps, and reading other novels and comics to supplement my nutrition... This aspect takes up most of my time.

Secondly, it is because this Cru's emotional drama is not easy to write. At the beginning, I wrote Cru as a cold-blooded and ruthless person, so it is a bit difficult to make him change later. This is also an important reason why I write slowly. What I have written now is still not satisfactory, but with my ability, I can only do this step for the time being...

Finally, the most insignificant reason - because I blew the air conditioner too much, I unfortunately caught a cold. Although a cold is not a serious illness, and I don't have a fever, my head will be a little painful every time I stay up all night, which will still affect my condition to some extent...

Finally, I apologize to all the friends who come to refresh every day because I am dragging!